April is earth month and a local vineyard right here in Northern Nevada that is taking that idea to heart -- producing local wine.
Joseph Bernardo, Co-Owner of Basin and Range Cellars Winery, is hard at work at his vineyard in Minden, preparing for the next harvest after a long winter.
“Growing a grape vine isn't just putting it in the ground and forgetting it, it's actually training it, trimming it, getting it to give the maximum fruit and the best production level."
But what sets this vineyard aside is what goes into the soil as well as what goes onto the vines.
“We do not use any commercial insecticides or pesticides of any sort, If we are going to use any kind of fertilizer what so ever, it will be all natural," said Bernardo.
And this is a big advantage over many of the places you would normally get grapes for wine making.
California has gotten some bad press for having some glyphosates and some of the stuff from like weed killers and some of the stuff that gets applied to their vineyards out there, and we don't have any of that stuff," said Wade Johnston, the other Co-Owner of Basin and Range.
But the thought process for this decision isn't just to protect their customers.
“Our property is just right above the Carson River Valley, so anything that we apply to the vineyard could impact anybody downstream, but we apply nothing so there's no problem, no complication there," said Johnston.
From growing and harvesting, to pressing, fermentation and bottling, they do all the work right here in Northern Nevada.
“We are the only winery in Nevada that is 100 percent Nevada grown fruit, 100 percent Nevada made wine,” said Bernardo.
This process of environmentally friendly vinification is one that has taken half a lifetime, and is a labor of love for Bernardo.
"Over the last 25 years I've been trying to perfect it as good as possible, and because of my wine school, which is where I spend a lot of my time experimenting and trying different things and perfecting wine.”
You can taste for yourself at the Wineries on 4th, or check out their website by clicking here.
